SANTA CLARA, CA--Nov. 30, 2012: From iPads to flat screens,
electronics are gifts people often buy for themselves around Christmas.
Electric bicycles are also becoming popular gifts that consumers buy for
themselves and others.

When it comes to affordable, fun and healthy transportation, it is hard
to beat electric bicycles.

Here are five tips consumers need to know when shopping for an electric
bicycle:

1. Height: Shorter riders should consider folding bikes or bikes
with 24" wheels. Taller riders will want 26" wheels or larger, with a full
size frame.

2. Use: Recreation, errands, riding on campus, exercise,
commuting, as well as terrain (steep hills or flat), need to be considered.
This helps determine speed and distance requirements.

3. Type: Riders who want to pedal should select lighter electric
bikes with a 250-350 watt motor and pedal-assist. Riders looking for a
moped experience or who have hills to climb, should select a more powerful
bike with a 500 to 750 watt motor and a throttle.

4. Style: Electric bicycles come in many styles; step-thru,
classic, folding, commuter, cruiser, and mountain to name a few.

5. Price: For students and consumers on a budget, there are
electric bikes for under $800. Quality,
light-weight, bikes sell for $900 to $2,000.
More powerful and higher quality electric bikes run between $2,000 and $4,000.

Bringing Electronics to Electric Bicycles and Scooters

The next big change in two wheel electric vehicles will come this summer
from Saturna Green Systems Inc., a Canadian telematics and display company.
Saturna is developing a totally new onboard navigation system for electric
bicycles, scooters and motorcycles.

The Saturna System consists of three components:

1. Ruggedized device built into the electric vehicle that communicates
between the motor and battery, and the rider or fleet operator.

With the Saturna System onboard, riders will benefit from many of all of
the GPS, turn-by-turn directions, and social media services available on
smart phones today. Riders will have very accurate range prediction and
routing, theft prevention and tracking, cloud services, and maintenance and
trouble shooting capabilities, only available on select cars today.